adj

criminal

KRIHM-ih-nuhl

adj

Involving or relating to crime, or against the law.

"Fraud is a criminal offence."

"She works in criminal law."

Shockingly wrong or wasteful (used loosely, not in a legal sense).

"It's criminal how much food gets thrown away every day."

noun

A person who has committed a crime.

"The police finally caught the criminal responsible for the robberies."

How to Use Criminal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to crime, or a person who commits crimes.

Common pairings

criminal record criminal charges a convicted criminal

more criminal comparative, criminals plural, most criminal superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Fraud is a _____ offence.

From Late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen, "crime" or "accusation."

final urinal spinal nominal seminal vaginal retinal cardinal original terminal marginal virginal